VANCOUVER -- The city of Vancouver’s Main Street reconstruction project, spanning the heart of downtown Vancouver from 5th to 15th, is complete ahead of the original spring 2027 completion schedule.
Community members are invited to celebrate Main Street’s reopening with the city and Vancouver’s Downtown Association from 5 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 7. The event will be hosted on the Kiggins Block of Main Street at 1011 Main Street.
This reconstruction, 33 years in the making and a $26 million investment, makes it one of the city’s largest infrastructure projects, improves safety, fosters community, and supports economic development along lower Main Street.
“After months of construction, the completed Main Street project offers a renewed and welcoming experience for everyone,” said Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. “The improvements set the stage for long-term economic success in our downtown. We’re excited to celebrate this milestone and eager to see how residents and visitors enjoy the heart of Vancouver.”
The city reconstructed nearly 100-year-old infrastructure beneath the newly paved street, including water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities. The project also added new traffic signals, outdoor seating, spaces for public art, festival lighting, and an e-bike charging station.
Main Street now includes power access and removable bollards along eight blocks, allowing the street to be closed to vehicles for pedestrian-only events.
Minor work will continue on Main Street through the Thanksgiving holiday, including the planting of over 100 trees.
Safety and accessibility improvements include a curbless design, speed bumps, extended sidewalks that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, tactile sidewalk treatments, audible crossings, enhanced intersections and crosswalks, 104 bike parking spaces, and 123 vehicle parking spots. Parking was converted to parallel parking to improve visibility.
During construction, 26 businesses opened or expanded on Main Street or within a block of construction.
Business support efforts during construction helped ensure customers continue visiting while addressing day-to-day concerns.
The city funded partnerships with Vancouver’s Downtown Association, Greater Vancouver Chamber, and Visit Vancouver to offer additional support to businesses during construction.
Project history
In 1993, the city planned a two-part project to improve Main Street and completed the north section in 1996. High costs delayed the lower section until 2021. Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and a mix of local sources, more than half from grants, enabled the project to move forward.
The city gathered community input in 2023, which informed designs finalized in 2024. The city awarded Nutter Inc. the construction contract. Nutter Inc. launched construction in January 2025, taking a phased approach to limit impacts on businesses.
Information provided by the city of Vancouver.
